account for (someone or something)

phrasal verb

accounted for (someone or something); accounting for (someone or something); accounts for (someone or something)

1

: to show what happened to (someone or something) : know where (something or someone) is

We have to account for the time we spend on each activity.

The government couldn't account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers' money.

Is everyone accounted for?

2

: to destroy or kill (someone or something)

Enemy fighters have accounted for most of our bombers, Sir.

3

chiefly British : to defeat or beat (someone or something)

We accounted for the challengers 3–2.

Examples of account for (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, the study did not account for participants’ prior experience with physical activity or their reasons for choosing specific workouts. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 July 2025

Fans account for 50% of the vote, while current players and a panel of media members split the remaining half. —Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

But Lippincott said at a town hall meeting June 30 that Ingram’s number doesn’t account for animals being surrendered and those that come from Caldwell but are not brought in by police. —Amaia Gavica july 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2025

Skinner said abortions account for slightly over 10% of services provided by PPSNE. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025